Putting electronic waste to good use

A pilot micro-factory has found a way to extract valuable metals from mobile phone devices. Developed by Professor Veena Sahajwalla at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Australia, this project aims to create a mobile and small-scale e-waste recycling solution to be deployed within poor urban communities.

Micro-factories can be set up in containers in urban areas and waste can easily be transported to waste sites, eliminating expenditure on shipping or trucking e-waste for long distances. This creates sustainable employment in poor communities.

Will e-waste disposal turn into a profitable business for poor communities?